Service Members, Veterans & Their Families

Text to Braille Reading Device

---- PROTOTYPE --------- PURPOSE: To design a prototype text-to-Braille converter for individuals who are blind or have low vision. The Blind Reader is a device that looks like a smartphone but functions like a text-to-Braille converter. The user skims the device over a paper publication, and the device uses optical character recognition to "read" the text. The back of the Blind Reader is refreshable Braille display. The device translates the text to Braille which appears on the back of the Brai

---- PROTOTYPE --------- PURPOSE: To design a prototype of an educational device to assist individuals who are blind or have low vision to transition into Braille literacy. The Braille Buddy is a 2-phase educational device aimed to assist individuals who are blind or low vision with the most difficult stages of learning Braille (e.g., reading and writing). The Braille Buddy folds down into an easy-to-hold device that expands to and includes the Braille cell and the Braille keyboard. In Stage 1,

---- PROTOTYPE --------- PURPOSE: To design a prototype of a haptic reader which can convert paper books into Braille or speech for individuals who are blind or have low vision. The Haptic Reader allows individuals with visual impairment to read regular paper books. The device is placed directly on the page of a book, and it scans the text on the page. Using optical character recognition (OCR) software, the Haptic Reader converts the text into braille, which is displayed on the devices refresha

---- PROTOTYPE --------- PURPOSE: To design a prototype of duel-purpose cover for the Apple iPad™ that doubles as a Braille reader for individuals who are blind or have low vision. Designed by Jayson D’Alessandro for the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDEA) Awards, The Omnifer is an innovative cover for the iPad that transforms the iPad’s touch screen into Braille. The Omnifer is a light-weight three-panel flip design cover that allows users to switch between Braille mode and standard

---- PROTOTYPE --------- PURPOSE: To design a prototype Bluetooth-enabled device finger-glove that connects to a smart phone, specifically the Apple iPhone, and works as a Braille display for individuals who are blind or or have low vision. By pulsing Braille shapes onto the fingertip via an “electro-tactile grid array,” the text on the iPhone's screen can be conveyed to the blind user. The Thimble also includes a camera allowing it to scan text from other sources (such as books or labels) and t